2014
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Where are you hedging your bets when it comes to the future of automobile propulsion? Maybe you're sticking with hybrids. Maybe you've already gone all the way to an electric car, or are rolling around in a range-extended Chevrolet Volt. For some, the latest version of the Toyota Prius with plug-in hybrid technology is just what they need. Largely similar to a regular Prius but equipped with a larger, lithium-ion battery pack and an extra few miles of electric range. We've compiled all our articles on the Prius Plug-In, bringing you all the information you'll need to decide whether it's the...
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BMW Advertises i3 And i8 Electric Cars On Olympics Broadcasts
The Winter Olympic games in Sochi, Russia, are now underway, and official partner BMW is using the games to promote its two plug-in offerings, the i3 and i8. Three different commercials will be broadcast during NBC's coverage of the games, focusing on different aspects of the BMW-i lineup. One...
Antony Ingram -
2014 Kia Optima Hybrid Updated: Aerodynamic Tweaks And More
The 2014 Kia Optima Hybrid was unveiled at the 2014 Chicago Auto Show.
Stephen Edelstein -
2014 Nissan Pathfinder Hybrid: Gas Mileage Test Disappointing
Hybrid SUVs and crossover utility vehicles remain rare compared to the growing array of hybrid passenger sedans and hatchbacks. So we've been eager to test the new 2014 Nissan Pathfinder Hybrid, one of only four hybrid crossovers. MORE: 2014 Nissan Pathfinder Hybrid: Is It Hybrid Enough To Matter?...
John Voelcker -
Tesla Already Among Top 10 Car Brands In Consumer Reports Survey
Image is vitally important to car brands. It's what makes people want your vehicles. A strong image leads to healthy brand perception, and that spreads. It even allows people to overlook the odd fault here and there, easing your company through rough patches. Tesla Motors [NSDQ:TSLA] has done much...
Antony Ingram -
2014 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel Pickup Fuel Economy: 23 MPG Combined
The 2014 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel's EPA fuel-economy ratings are in.
Stephen Edelstein -
Jeep will use the Geneva Motor Show in March to launch the latest addition to its Cherokee range--the Cherokee Diesel. Hurrah! The bad news is that there are no intentions to bring this model to the U.S, where the most efficient Cherokee currently utilizes a 2.4-liter, four-cylinder gasoline engine. Boo! The new diesel model instead slots a 2.0-liter, 'Multijet II' turbodiesel engine under the hood, with 140 or 170-horsepower outputs and 258 pounds-feet of torque. A six-speed manual transmission is standard on the lower-power variant, while the stronger model sends its power through Jeep's...
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2014 Jeep Cherokee Limited 4X4: Gas Mileage Test With V-6
It's winter in the Northeast, and last week's Polar Vortex luckily came along just as our weekend test car was a 2014 Jeep Cherokee. This is the all-new compact crossover that replaces the old truck-like Jeep Liberty, going head-to-head with popular compact crossover utilities like the Chevy...
John Voelcker -
Which State Has The Highest Percentage Of Electric Cars? No, Not CA
California has something of a reputation for being an electric car haven. The state has always been concerned about pollution, offers healthy incentives for those wishing to purchase an electric vehicle, and if you're keen to charge using solar power, there's an abundance of sun to make the most of...
Antony Ingram -
Had To Happen: High-Performance Tesla Model S From Saleen On The Way
Saleen Automotive is well-known for its high-performance tuning on familiar models like the Ford Mustang. But what car do you choose if you want to tackle an electric model? Given the Ford connection, maybe the Focus EV? Perhaps the high-selling Nissan Leaf? No--instead you go for an electric car...
Antony Ingram -
All-New 2014 MINI Cooper Prices To Start At $20,745
MINI USA has announced pricing for the third generation of its BMW-produced hatchback, which will be priced from $20,745 when it arrives in the spring. That figure includes MINI's mandatory $795 destination charge, which also applies to the $24,395 MINI Cooper S. The new car will be called the MINI...
Antony Ingram -
2014 Cadillac ELR Electric Coupe: Free Home Charging Station Included
When the price of the 2014 Cadillac ELR range-extended luxury coupe was announced last October--it's $75,995--the gasps and shrieking could be heard throughout the plug-in electric car world. Yesterday, Cadillac sweetened the pot a bit: It said it would offer a "complimentary" 240-Volt Level 2 home...
John Voelcker -
Big cars with adequate gas mileage are hard to come by, but one of the best options at the moment is diesel power. At its best, the BMW 7-Series is a bit of a gas-guzzler. With a turbocharged, 3.0-liter inline six, the best it can attain is 29 mpg highway. Throw in a diesel engine though and it should improve--so goes the theory behind the latest addition to the range, the 740Ld xDrive. ALSO READ: Should Everyone Lease Cars All The Time? Elon Musk Says Yes The name is a bit of a mouthful--the 'L' stands for BMW's long-wheelbase chassis, and 'xDrive' is BMW-speak for an all-wheel drive...
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2014 Smart ForTwo Electric Drive: What It's Like On The Road
With minimal changes from the model launched last year as the least expensive electric car in the U.S., the 2014 Smart ForTwo Electric Drive remains the smallest and shortest plug-in electric car sold in the U.S.--as well as the only one offered as a convertible. The two-seat electric Smart comes...
John Voelcker -
Nissan Celebrates 99,999...100,000 Leaf Electric Car Sales
There's a curious joy in watching your car's odometer tick over to some significant number. 11,111 miles perhaps, or a palindromic number. Or, of course, the big hundred-thousand. Nissan is experiencing that very same joy with sales of its Leaf electric car, as it sells the 99,999th and 100,000th...
Antony Ingram -
Diesel Vs Electric Chevrolet: Cruze Diesel Vs Volt Sales In 2013
This year, 2014, is going to be the big test for diesel engines in U.S. passenger vehicles. It's the first full year in which two popular cars--the Chevrolet Cruze compact sedan and the Jeep Grand Cherokee--are offered with diesel engines as optional equipment, complete with higher EPA fuel...
John Voelcker -
2014 BMW i3 Range Extender: No White CA Carpool-Lane Sticker, Here's Why
Incentives help drive the purchase of plug-in electric cars, which remain unfamiliar and expensive to many first-time buyers. But a recent article on The Street may have caused some confusion over which incentives will be granted to BMW's first electric car, the i3, when it goes on sale this...
John Voelcker -
2014 Chevy, GMC Pickups Recalled For Cylinder-Deactivation Issue
A software glitch could cause Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups to overheat.
Stephen Edelstein -
A change in Federal crash-test procedures downgraded the safety rating of Toyota's iconic hybrid.
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With Demand Soaring, Nissan Leaf U.S. Production Could Double This Year
With the 2014 Nissan Leaf going on sale this week and next, Nissan is poised to expand production and dramatically boost sales of its U.S.-built battery-electric hatchback. And if its CEO has his way, sales will double in 2014, from the 22,610 Leafs delivered in 2013 to 40,000 or more, perhaps as...
John Voelcker -
2014 Nissan Leaf Electric Car: 84-Mile Range, RearView Monitor Standard
The 2014 Nissan Leaf is now rolling off the assembly lines in Tennessee, and the first examples should arrive at dealerships this week or next. Now, after a long wait, we have information on the updates to the electric car for the new model year. Rated range rises to 84 miles Most importantly to...
John Voelcker -
2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee EcoDiesel: Diesel SUV Fuel Economy Tested
Diesel engines are now offered in a growing number of passenger vehicles on sale this year and next, especially crossovers and sport utilities. The 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee EcoDiesel is one of two popular models this year that offer a good test of how attractive buyers find today's modern diesels...
John Voelcker -
2014 Cadillac ELR Software Gives Hints Of Future Voltec Uses
General Motors' Voltec drivetrain, the range-extended plug-in setup used on the Chevrolet Volt and the new 2014 Cadillac ELR, is among the most advanced drivetrains on the roads. That's not to say there isn't room for greater improvement though, and that's exactly what GM is doing. In fact, as...
Antony Ingram -
2014 Ford Fiesta 1.0-Liter EcoBoost Cars Now Being Delivered
The first 2014 Ford Fiesta 1.0-liter EcoBoost cars are making their way into customers' hands.
Stephen Edelstein